MI House committee aims to retain university funding

Michigan's 15 public universities would escape a cut in funding from the state in the next fiscal year under terms of a budget bill advancing in the Democratic-run state House.

The bill approved Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee would maintain current funding levels for university operations in the budget year that starts Oct. 1. The bill could come up for a vote on the House floor as early as this week.

The Republican-led Senate has approved a version of the higher education budget that would cut university funding by about 3% next fiscal year.

The university budget bill is one of several that likely will wind up in conference committees where members of the House and Senate will try to reach a compromise.